Tree lopper brings his toughness to the Fire

GRANT de Chastel is used to cutting down trees eight hours a day then driving four hours to train - so transferring to the Sunshine Coast Fire has been a walk in the park.

Before returning to the Kawana-based club halfway through the season, de Chastel was driving more than 20 hours a week to play for Brisbane Roar's youth team, while making ends meet as a tree lopper in Noosa.

He may have transferred home in late May to cut down on travel, but the 18-year-old midfielder credits the long days with helping him become a key part of the Coast's finals push.

"It's hard work, but it's been good for me," he said.

"If you can get through that you can survive 90 minutes on the pitch."

Coach Kevin A'herne-Evans counts de Chastel as a vital part of the club's National Premier League squad, citing his toughness and determination as key attributes.

De Chastel is seen as a key building block for the club's future and the former Noosa junior believes working as a tree lopper helps shape his character.

"It helps you mentally, doing a job like that," he said.

"It pushes you, which is good when you are preparing for a game."

The task ahead of the Fire is as troublesome as any tree de Chastel has confronted.

The team must win at least three of its final four games to avoid becoming the first side in the club's existence to miss a finals series.

De Chastel and several of the Fire's younger players return to the youth team this week so they can stay sharp during the first team's bye.

The NPL side returns to action next week with an away trip against Olympic, the competition's second best team.

Despite last week's 2-0 loss to Far North Queensland, de Chastel believes Fire has the form to surge into the top four.

"We want to be in the finals, that's what we deserve and that's where we should be," he said.

"We're as good as the teams in the top four and I think we deserve to be there."